Apparatus and method for simultaneously cutting two rows of cane and piling four rows of cut cane on two rows

ABSTRACT

Two pairs of cane gatherers are mounted forwardly on a four-wheeled power train, for driving a plurality of constant and variable volume hydraulic pumps, the cane gatherers being provided with gathering chains for holding and moving cane through a pair of cane passageways defined thereby and by sticker and moving chains mounted for endless rotation for guiding two rows of cane to cane toppers and cutters mounted in each passageway, and then to a pair of articulated pilers mounted on the rear of the power train. Cut-cane passageways through the pilers are defined by cane moving chains and rub bars. The pilers in one articulated position lay the cut cane of one row just behind the cut cane of the second row in a continuous transverse windrow across the cut rows and behind the power train and in a second articulated position lay the cut cane across adjacent cut rows. Front wheels are pivotable up to 90° and are tied together by tackle and pairs of differential drums that pivot an inboard wheel in turns up to 90° and an outboard wheel up to 45° and, with independently applicable rear wheel brakes, produce a minimal turning radius of approximately an apparatus length. Differential level control of variable volume pumps respectively powering power train wheels and cane-moving chains, conform an infinite ratio of speeds to the state and direction of windblown cane. The constant volume pumps power hydraulic cylinders to position cane gatherers, position and rotate cutters and toppers, position the pilers articulation and pivots the power train front wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is related generally to harvesters, and more particularlyto the apparatus and method of cutting cane two rows at a time and thepiling four rows of cut cane transversely across two cut rows incontinuous windrows.

The prior art teaches multiple row harvesters blowing chopped forageinto following trailers, and single row harvesters piling two cut rowsin longitudinal windrows. Reference is made to the following U.S.patents: B. C. Thompson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,002,330; H. J. Chauffe, U.S.Pat. No. 3,448,564; V. P. Broussard, U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,121; and J. D.Segredo, U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,752.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus and method ofharvesting cane using only 60% of the energy heretofore used to harvestthe same amount of cane.

Another object of the invention is to provide continuous windrows offour rows of cut cane across two cut rows for easy pickup without topsand no wheel travel between said two rows;

Another object of the invention is to provide a turning radius ofharvesting apparatus of about one length thereof;

Still another object of the invention is to provide differential speedcontrol means for the power train and cane-moving means relative to thestate and direction of windblown cane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sketch of the apparatus and method of tying thefront wheels together for coordinated differential pivoting in turns;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged three dimensional view of an adjustabledifferential speed control for adjusting an infinite ratio of relativespeeds of power train and cane moving chains to the state and directionof windblown cane;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the differential drums of FIG. 4and controls; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic sketch of the hydraulic power system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the invention comprises a four-wheeled powertrain 10 having a centrally mounted internal combustion engine 12 fordriving constant volume pumps 14 and variable volume pumps 15 thatprovide hydraulic power to run and control the apparatus. Two pairs ofcane gatherers 16 and 17, which respectively defines with gatheringchains mounted therein the front portion of respective paths 18 and 19for two rows of cane, are pivoted by pivots 20 to the front 21 of powertrain 10 for the simultaneous raising and lowering of said pairs of canegatherers 16 and 17. Additional cane gatherers 22 are mounted outboardof cane gatherers 16 respectively for engaging any windblown cane fromadjacent rows and righting it clear of the apparatus. A pair of canetoppers 23 and cutters 24 are mounted intermediate the front wheels 26and rear wheels 27 for topping and cutting the cane of two rows gatheredinto passageways 18 and 19. Center cane carrier chains 28 engage canefrom the gatherers to lead it to the toppers and cutters, and from theremoves the cut cane rearward to a pair of articulated pilers 29 and 30pivoted to the rear of the power train 10. The pilers discharge the canefrom a first articulated position to the rear and transversely acrossthe two rows being cut in continuous windrows, one said row of cut canebehind the other. From a second articulated position, the pilers 29 and30 discharge the cut cane behind and to respective sides of theapparatus transverse the adjacent cut rows.

Power train 10 comprises a rectangular frame 33 defining twolongitudinal cane passageways in continuation of passageways 18 and 19that begin between each of the pairs of cane gatherers 16 and 17, saidframe being supported on the two front wheels 26 and the two rear wheels27. Rear wheels 27 are mounted for rotation on planetary hubs 38 fixedto said frame and have brakes 40 and hydraulic driving motors 42. Brakes40 are respectively connected to independent foot pedals 43 that areoperable jointly and separately. Each of the front wheels 26 is mountedfor rotation on a hydraulic driving motor 42 fixed to a depending member44. A spindle 45 is fixed to the top of each member 44 for pivoting saidmember to said frame 33. Hydraulic rotary activators 46 are respectivelyfixed to the tops of said spindles and to frame 33 for respectivelypivoting depending members and associated front wheels for turning.Referring further to FIG. 4, pulleys 53 are fixed to the tops ofrespective depending members 44 and are connected through one of twopairs of differential drums 48 and 50 by means of tackle 52 to tie thetwo front wheels together for simultaneous and differential pivoting onrespective spindles 45. The manually operated steering wheel 54hydraulicly activates rotary activators 46 which provide torque to pivotthe front wheels in turns to right and left depending upon which of thetwo pairs of differential drums is connected to said front wheels for aninboard wheel to turn up to 90° and an outboard wheel to turn up to 45°in maximum turns, as more fully described hereinafter. In steering thepivoting of the front wheels can be coordinated with braking a backwheel for turning the apparatus in its own length by pivoting on thebraked rear wheel. Wheel drive motors 42 are powered by variable volumepumps 15 activated by a single control pedal 55 mounted adjacent brakecontrol pedals 43.

The pairs of cane gatherers 16 and 17 comprise gathering frames 56individually pivoted to the front of the power train, said frames beingseparately and/or jointly raised and lowered by hydraulic cylinders 57and cables 58 and actuated by constant volume pumps 14 (see FIG. 7).Gathering chains 59 are mounted therein for endless rotation onsprockets 60 driven by hydraulic motors 61 from a variable volume pump15.

The pair of cane toppers 23 comprise conic frustums mounted small end upfor opposite rotation with circular knives fixed to the bottoms thereoffor severing the cane tops, and deflector strips 66 fixed on the sidesthereof deflect the severed top outboard of the respective two rowsbeing harvested. The toppers are simultaneously movable vertically byhydraulic cylinder 68 supplied from the constant volume pumps 14.

The pair of articulated pilers 29 and 30 each comprises a primary part69 and a secondary part 70 pivoted together end to end, and eachcomprising longitudinal members spaced parallelly apart to definetherebetween a continuation of cane paths 18 and 19 respectively. Thelongitudinal members of piler 29 are longer than those of piler 30 inorder for the pilers to sequentially pile cane in continuous windrowswithout the discharged cane from one piler interfering with that of theother piler as each discharges its cut cane across the same two rowsfrom which it was cut. Pilers 29 and 30 are pivoted to the back of frame33 and respectively continue paths 18 and 19 of center cane carrierchains 28. Longitudinal members 71 and 72 of each of the primary parts69 are parallely linked by linkages 74, each of which are pivoted to arespective rod end of hydraulic cylinders 76 which are pivoted to theback end of frame 33 for respectively swinging said members 71 and 72outwardly and inwardly. Sprockets 78 are mounted for rotation on therespective ends of members 71 and 72 for rotating endless sticker chains80 to move rearwardly therebetween cut cane from the center carrierchains 28. Longitudinal members 82 of secondary parts 70 each havesprockets 84 mounted on the respective ends thereof for rotatingrespective sticker chains 85 endlessly therearound, and respective rubbars 83 linked parallely therewith and having an inboard end curvedaround respective inboard sprockets 84 to define respective pathstherebetween for cut cane. A double slotted roller guide 88 is fixed toeach rub bar 83, and a second double rub bar 92 is fixed thereto byrollers 90 and positioned by pivotal angular links 94 actuatedrespectively by rod ends 96 of hydraulic cylinders 98, each fixed to arub bar 83. The rub bars 92 are each curved to intercept cane from theprimary parts 69 and deflect it inwardly and transversely behind theapparatus when each of the secondary parts 70 are extended rearwardly byrod ends 100 of hydraulic cylinders 102 that are pivoted between the endof frame 33 and respective lugs 104 fixed to respective longitudinalmembers 82. When hydraulic cylinders 76 and 102 have the respective rodends retracted, the primary and secondary pilers of each pair of pilersare pivoted outboard and the curved ends of rub bars 83 intercepts thecut cane from the primary parts 69 and carries it outboard andtransversely across two adjacent rows from the ones being cut.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, differential drums 48 and 50 arearranged in pairs at the ends of a stationary axle or shaft 105 forrotation thereon, the drums 48 and 50 of each pair being engageable toeach other by respective dog clutches 106, one or the other pair beingkept in engagement by a spring 108 mounted on said shaft between the twopairs of drums and a two-position control rod 114. Straps 110 are fixedrespectively to the inboard drums 48 of each pair of drums and dependtherefrom to define aligned holes 111 through their respective free ends113, through which said two-position control rod 114 is slidablymounted. The straps are respectively pivoted on pivots 116 intermediateholes 116 and shaft 105. Two stops 118 are adjustably secured by setscrews 112 to said control rod 114 on the inboard sides of said strapends 113, and adapted when said control rod is pulled to pivot the leftstrap and declutch the left differential drums shown on FIG. 6 forsteering with the steering wheel to the right for a maximum turn of theright or inboard wheel 90° and the left or outboard wheel 45°. Pushingsaid control rod 114 separates the right differential drums forsimilarly steering to the left. A control lever 119 is pivotally mountedadjacent steering wheel 54 and pivotally connected to control rod 114for effecting the two-position push-pull operation manually incooperation with turning the steering wheel.

Referring to FIG. 5, a differential speed control 120, for synchronizingthe ground speed of the power train with the chain speed of thecane-moving chains relative to the erect state of the cane in the field,is mounted between control pedal 55 and variable volume pumps 15 andcomprises a base 122 and fixed bracket 121 connected by pivot 124 to alower end of a plate member 126, the upper free end of which engagesoppositely disposed linkages 128 and 130 extending normal to pivot 124and spaced therefrom by a fixed distance, said linkages beingrespectively connected with the ground speed control pedal 55 and theother end connecting with variable volume hydraulic pumps 15 supplyingpower to wheel motors 42. A transverse member is fixed through andadjacent to the free end of plate member 126 to extend parallel withpivot 124 and spaced vertically therefrom. Two bolts 135 respectivelyextend through and depend from holes in the respective ends oftransverse member 132 and are adjustably secured thereon by nuts 136engaging complementary threads of the upper ends of said bolts. Thelower ends of said bolts 135 are flattened and define bolt holes 137parallel to said transverse member 132. A channel member 138 has sideparts 140 that are respectively slotted vertically to register with boltholes 137 and to pivotally engage by pivot bolts and nuts 144 the ends146 of linkages to variable volume pumps 15 supplying power to hydraulicmotors (not shown) that rotate pickup and gathering chains 22 and 59,center chains 28, and piler chains 80 and 85. Bolts 136 adjustablysupport and space pivot nuts and bolts 144 from linkages 128 and 130, adistance made proportional by bolts and nuts 135 and 136 to any desiredratio of ground and chain speeds suitable to the windblown condition anddirection of the cane.

Referring to FIG. 7, the variable volume pumps 15 supply power to allwheel driving motors and chain rotating motors through variable speedcontrol 121, and the constant volume pumps 14 supply power to allhydraulic cylinders, hydraulic front wheel rotary actuators and steeringwheel, and cane cutter and toppers motors.

In use, the apparatus cuts two rows at a side of a field, it then skipstwo rows to cut two more rows therebeyond and so on to the other side ofthe field. The pilers which have been set in a first articulatedpositions, for transversely piling cut cane in back of the apparatus andacross the two cut rows, are now changed to a second articulatedposition, and the apparatus sequentially cuts the skipped rows two at atime and piles the cut cane therefrom across the two cut rows adjacentthe rows then being cut. Four rows are thereby piled across two rows ina continuous windrow that is easy to pick up by a fork loader forloading on a vehicle to take the cut cane to a mill. The severed canetops and the apparatus wheels do not invade between the rows supportingwindrows of cut cane, for cleaner and less contaminated cane pickups.

What is claimed is:
 1. Cane cutting and piling apparatus for harvestingcane comprising:(a) an hydraulic four-wheel drive power train meanshaving pairs of transversely spaced front and back wheels adapted tospan two rows of can including an inter-row space therebetween, withsaid pairs of front and back wheels engaging in inter-row spacesadjacent said two spanned rows for rolling up and down a cane field, tworows at a time, said power train means mounting opposed and oppositelyrotatable cane engaging means arranged to define a pair of canepassageways through said power train means and in alignment with saidspanned two rows for passing cane alongsaid passageways; (b) two pairsof cane gathering means, pivoted to a front end of said power trainmeans for vertically adjusting the free ends thereof, and mountingopposed and oppositely rotatable cane engaging means arranged to definea pair of cane passageways in continuation of said cane passageways ofsaid power train means for simultaneously engaging two rows of canetherein; (c) cane cutting and topping means slidably mounted forrotation in said cane passageways of said power train means for cuttingand topping the cane passing therethrough at adjustable heights; (d) apair of articulated piler means, pivoted to a back of said power trainmeans for horizontally adjusting the free ends thereof in two canedischarging positions, said piler means mounting opposed and oppositelyrotatable cane engaging means arranged to define a pair of canepassageways in continuation of said power train means cane passagewaysfor simultaneously discharging and piling the cane engaged thereinacross the rows from which cut, in one of said two cane dischargingpositions, and across two adjacent rows on each side of the two rowsfrom which the cane is cut in another of said two cane dischargingpositions; (e) steering means mounted on said power train means forpivoting said pair of front wheels differentially in a direction ofturn; (f) differential speed control means mounted in said power trainfor adjusting speed of rotation of said cane engaging means relative tospeed of rotation of said four wheel drive of the power train means inan infinite range of rations to compensate for a windblown condition anddirection of cane that affect cane gathering and pickup; and (g) powermeans mounted in said power trainmeans for the operation and control ofall aforesaid means.
 2. Cane cutting and piling apparatus as describedin claim 1 wherein said hydraulic four-wheel drive power train meanscomprises:(a) independently operable brakes mounted on said rear wheelsfor pivoting said power train on a braked rear wheel in sharp turns; (b)depending members respectively mount front wheels for rotation at endsand spindle the other ends over respective front wheel centers to afront end of said power train means; (c) rotary actuators respectivelymounted on said front end and adapted to pivot said depending membersand front wheels around the respective spindles in turns by saidsteering means; (d) an internal combustion engine mounted on the back ofsaid power train for providing primary power; (e) variable volume pumpsmounted on one end of said internal combustion engine and driven therebyfor supplying power to said four-wheel hydraulic drive and to rotate allcane engaging means; and (f) constant volume pumps mounted on anotherend of said internal combustion engine and driven thereby for supplyingpower to operate and control all means, other than those stated above,rotationally, pivotally and slidably mounted on said power train. 3.Cane cutting and piling apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein saidtwo pairs of cane gathering means comprise:(a) oppositely disposed andoppositely rotating cane pickup, separating and righting means fixed torespective outer cane gathering means of said two pair of gatheringmeans for picking up, separating and righting cane from rows adjoiningthose being cut.
 4. Cane cutting and piling apparatus as described inclaim 1 wherein said cane cutting and topping means comprise:(a) a pairof conic frustums rotationally mounted with small ends uppermost in saidcane passageways defined through said power train means; (b) circularknives mounted on the respective large ends of said conic frustums forcutting cane tops of cane passing through said cane passageways; and (c)a plurality of radially projecting ridges extending upwardly from saidlarge ends of said conic frustums for engaging cut cane tops leaning onsaid conic frustums and throwing said tops into respective inter-rowspaces outwardly of the pair of rows being piled to the rear, andinwardly of the rows being piled to the sides.
 5. Cane cutting andpiling apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said pair of pilermeans comprise:(a) primary parts, one longer than the other, are pivotedby respective ends to the rear of said power train means; (b) secondaryparts are respectively articulated end to end with said primary parts;(c) two double rub bar means are fixed to each of said secondary parts;a shorter rub bar means, adapted to intercept the cane passageways atthe respective ends of the primary parts, directs the cane to inwarddischarge therefrom, the cane from the longer primary part dischargingbehind the cane discharged from the other shorter primary part with nointerference therebetween, when said primary and secondary parts areextended rearwardly in said first position; a longer rub bar meansadapted to continue the cane passageways of the primary parts when saidprimary and secondary parts are pivoted outwardly in said secondposition to discharge outwardly from the ends of said second partsacross adjacent rows.
 6. Cane cutting and piling apparatus as describedin claim 1 wherein said steering means comprises:(a) steering wheelmeans connected hydraulically between said power means and said frontwheel means to pivot actuating means for pivoting said front wheel meansin turns; (b) two similar pairs of differential drums of any desireddifferential radius ratio mounted for rotation on a fixed shaft, thedifferential drums of each said pair biased to clutch together subjectto alternative declutching of one pair in a turn in one direction, andthe other pair in a turn in the other direction; and (c) tackleconnecting both pairs of differential drums in a reverse sequence of thedifferential drums of each said pair to tie said front wheel meanstogether for differential turns in both directions with a wheel of saidfront wheel means in the direction of turn pivoting a greater amount bythe ratio of said differential radii than the other of said front wheelmeans, whereby said steering wheel means controls the amount of pivotingof such front wheel means, and said differential drums control therelative amount each said wheel pivots with respect to the other of saidfront wheel means.
 7. Cane cutting and piling apparatus as described inclaim 1 wherein said differential speed control means comprises:(a)oppositely disposed linkages pivoted to a base spaced a fixed distancefrom said linkages, and connected respectively to operator controls andto power means supplying hydraulic power to said four-wheel hydraulicdrive; and (b) parallel linkages connected respectively to cane engagingmeans of said gathering means, power train means and piler means,pivoted to said base an adjustable distance spaced between said base andsaid oppositely disposed linkages for providing any desired ratiobetween a ground speed of said power train means and a speed of saidcane engaging means relative to the windblown condition and direction ofthe cane being cut for said cane to be picked up and vertically rightedby the time it reaches said cutting and topping means.